Match Report Saturday 13th October 2007, Under 17’s v SOPYC at Lenadoon
Result: St Mary's FC 2 SOPYC 1
This was a tight and very hard fought match for the Under 17 St Mary's squad against a SOPYC team who had started the day on top of the table.
However, St Mary's began well and were rewarded in the 15th minute when Declan Hackett rose high at the far post to head a corner kick strongly past the SOPYC goalkeeper. A number of other chances arose with one in particular finding Conor Saunders in the six yard box unmarked. However, the ball arrived fast and unexpectedly and amazingly bounced off him and failed to go into the SOPYC net.
This let off sparked SOPYC into a late first half spell of pressure and only a brilliant save from Conor Devlin kept the half time score remaining 1 - 0 to St Mary's.
SOPYC started off the second half in whirlwind fashion and began to pin St Mary's back. Just after 45 minutes a long ball though the middle caught out the defence and left SOPYC centre forward with a one against one on goal. Despite Conor Devlin saving the first attempt the rebound was scrambled home to equalise.
It was now all SOPYC but the St Mary's defence held strong with Declan Hackett in particular proving a tower of strength in the air winning all high balls. However, St Mary's just could not keep the ball and as each attack was cleared SOPYC just kept coming back.
This was the moment for Chris Barr to return from a long period out injured and suddenly pose a different challenge to the SOPYC defence with his fast and direct running. Almost immediately he caused confusion in the opposition half and laid a ball across goal which was narrowly put wide by Michael O'Reilly. This chance lifted the St Mary's squad and in the 60th minute Michael O'Reilly again found space on the right to speed past a defender and smash the ball home for a 2 - 1 lead.
Again SOPYC fought back and with Ryan McAuley having to leave the field with a bad cut below his eye the pressure was on. Again the team defended well but it still required a magnificent save late on from Conor Devlin to preserve the 2 - 1 win.
So St Mary's went to the top of the table albeit if only for an hour since Aquinas then beat Rosario in late kick-off to draw level on points but assume top place as result of their win against St Mary's a few weeks ago. With every team playing each other 3 times the league will no doubt have a lot of twists and turns but this result in Lenadoon will have given St Mary's a great boost of confidence because undoubtedly few teams will leave this venue with maximum points in the coming months.
Team:
Conor Devlin, Michael Fearon, Daniel Lunney, Conor Saunders, Declan Hackett,
Chris Boy ( Captain ), Hugh Campbell, Ryan McAuley ( sub John Meighan ), Michael O'Reilly, Daniel McCreesh ( sub Chris Barr ), Kevin Meighan ( sub James Cachart ). Subs unused Chris Walsh, Jim Boyle.